"After 35 years as a public servant, as Mayor of Alexandria, and for the past 23 as a member of the House of Representatives, it's time to close this chapter of my life and move on to the next challenge. It's been an honor to represent Northern Virginia. I couldn't be more fortunate to have spent my career working with such wonderful people trying to make this one of the best places in the world to live, work and raise a family," Moran said in a statement.

Nine Republicans and now six Democrats in the House have announced they will retire rather than run for re-election in November. That count does not include lawmakers who've already resigned or have died in office.

Democrats need to win a challenging 17 seats to regain control of the House for the first time since they lost the chamber in the 2010 midterm elections.

The Buffalo, New York-born Moran, who's 68, moved to northern Virginia nearly three and a half decades ago. In Congress, he's spent much of his efforts on appropriations. He's currently the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee's interior subcommittee and a senior member of the defense subcommittee.

In the 1990's, he was critical of President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, but he ended up voting against impeachment. And last decade, he was an outspoken critic of the Iraq War.

Moran represents his state's eighth congressional district, which covers northern Virginia's inner suburbs just outside of the nation's capital. The district is dominated by Democrats and the seat is considered safe.

soundoff(11 Responses)

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA -aka- Take Back The House -aka- No Redemption Votes

Thanks for your service Mr. Moran.

January 15, 2014 11:29 am at 11:29 am |

Silence DoGood

"Moran is known for speaking his mind. He was arrested alongside actor George Clooney and others as they protested outside the Sudanese Embassy in 2012."
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We need more Democrats like this that will stand up for what they believe to have any hope of fighting the conservative radical-religious take over.

January 15, 2014 11:33 am at 11:33 am |

Gurgyl

Thank ugly for your staunch service, sir. God bless!!!!!

January 15, 2014 11:56 am at 11:56 am |

yolanda

@Silence, we need more politicians from both parties to stand up against the extremists on both ends of the spectrum. As the article stated, he was known for speaking his mind, not just the party blather.

January 15, 2014 11:57 am at 11:57 am |

Silence DoGood

@yolanda
@Silence, we need more politicians from both parties to stand up against the extremists on both ends of the spectrum. As the article stated, he was known for speaking his mind, not just the party blather.
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Very true – If we had real independent politicians from all viewpoints, what an exciting time that would be.

January 15, 2014 12:19 pm at 12:19 pm |

Gurgyl

-you, this computer takes words? Sorry.

January 15, 2014 12:38 pm at 12:38 pm |

Kelvin R. Stemplemeister

i thnk dick cheny should run for that job. he shhud run for that job or be on Foxx and frends wich is a good show, full of trooth!

more good news for america. another leftist democrat that has destroyed the country doesn't want to run again defending obama and obamacare. what total cowards. screw the country over then run for the hills instead of facing the music of a humiliating election defeat.